Under the Australian Privacy Act, the High Commission in New Zealand cannot obtain confidential information on Australian citizens or residents of Australia from any Australian police force. Only the person him/herself may obtain this information directly from the relevant state, territory or federal police force.

Australians abroad often need police or character certificates for such purposes as court requirements, residence permission or securing employment. Australian Citizens requiring such certificates should contact the appropriate Australian Federal, State or Territory Police Force.

The type, cost and application forms required for clearance certificates vary from state to state. Any State or Territory in Australia will be able to provide at least one of the following certificates:

Certificate issued on the basis of fingerprints;

Certificate issued on the basis of a name check; and

National Police Clearance Certificate.

Australian Citizens seeking to obtain any form of clearance certificate should be advised that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Canberra could issue a National Police Clearance Certificate that covers criminal records in all states and territories, except Queensland. The AFP has advised that this certificate is acceptable in all countries. You should confirm that the requesting local authority would accept this certificate.

Please note an application for a National Police Clearance Certificate contains various options. It would be in your interests to make direct contact with the police force, to which you will be applying for the certificate, to ensure that your application meets the necessary requirements and delays in processing may be minimised.

If you require a certificate based on fingerprints, you should make your own arrangements with the local police force to have your fingerprints taken. Please note that these certificates will only be issued on the basis of original fingerprint records being provided to the supplying police force in Australia. Photocopies and faxes of fingerprint records are not acceptable.